Identifying the unofficial rules that regulate all life forms is crucial, especially as the planet’s list of endangered species continues to grow. According to genetic researcher Sean Carroll, the key to understanding what he calls “Serengeti Rules” is to look at the human body. The same rules that govern how bodies work also determine the number of zebras on the planet, how different plants might fail or flourish in the wild, and what is known as the Darwin effect. Carroll (Endless Forms Most Beautiful) will explain why we should all care about these basic principles of nature: just as understanding of the human body has led to discoveries in the field of medicine, figuring out these rules could lead to a healthier planet. He’ll explore the logic behind these regulations and demonstrate that with every cause, comes an effect. In this case, the effects could be avoiding a pending “ecological cancer”—but only if humans start following the rules.

Science Series

Town Hall’s Science series is dedicated to understanding the world around us. Whether we’re hearing from a legendary physicist or a UW graduate student, the Science series explores math, biology, chemistry, the environment, and so much more.